9th Circuit Reverses Decision on U.S. Refugee Processing Program

Appeals Court Decision Halts Refugee Processing in the U.S.

In a significant legal development, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned a prior ruling that allowed for the continuation of refugee processing in the United States. This decision impacts numerous refugees who were on the cusp of resettlement.

The case traces back to an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on his first day in office, which halted refugee admissions and related funding. This order was challenged by resettlement agencies representing refugees in the advanced stages of resettlement, leading to a district court ruling in their favor last year, effectively lifting the ban.

Mevlüde Akay Alp, a senior staff attorney with the International Refugee Assistance Project, commented on the previous district court’s decision: “That was an incredible moment for many refugees who were on the verge of being resettled in the United States, because it required the government to re-open refugee processing.”

However, the recent appeals court decision has reversed this earlier order, once again obstructing over 100,000 refugees. Additionally, the court mandated that the Trump administration continue funding services for those refugees who are already in the country.